Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/4/2013

Jabil Circuit buys company for $665 million

St. Petersburg's Jabil Circuit is buying Nypro Inc, a Massachusetts-based maker of precision plastic products, for about $665 million, bolstering its presence in the health care, packaging and consumer electronics industries. Already the biggest global employer based in the Tampa Bay area with about 140,000 employees, Jabil is adding Nypro's network of 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations in 10 countries. Nypro has more than $1 billion in annual revenues. More at the Tampa Bay Times.

The sales manger in the play and film Glengarry Glen Ross famously declared, “Always be closing.” He went on to say, “Cause only one thing counts in this world: get them to sign on the line which is dotted.” There’s nothing wrong with an always be closing attitude, as long as it’s supported by a healthy conversation that builds credibility and provides value to your prospect. More from Ron Stein.

'Help wanted' ads in Florida up by 28,000 in January

Florida's "help wanted" online ads rose by nearly 28,000 openings in January, or 12.3 percent over the same month in 2012. Compared to December, job postings decreased by 1.7 percent. Demand was strongest in large cities, with Miami having the highest percentage gain, more than 26 percent, over the previous year. See chart of Florida's top ten metro areas with the most online ads at Florida Career Connections.

Digital Risk, founded in 2005, grew quickly to become the nation’s largest independent provider of risk, compliance and transaction management services for the mortgage and financial services industry. Revenue for the Maitland-based firm surged to $127 million in 2012, up 70% over three years.

A decade ago, speculators in Florida were pumping up a huge housing bubble. "You couldn't go wrong," Tampa real estate attorney Charlie Hounchell says. In that overheated period from 2001 to 2006, "you could buy a house and make $100,000 a year later by selling it," he says. But the party ended in 2007 and the hangover persists. More from NPR.

Small Business Advice Former felons seek a place in the workforce

Many felons come out of prison with no hope that they will ever be able to find a job because of their crime. Even when ex-prisoners emerge with all the skills they need to have successful careers, they may never get a chance to put them into practice because many businesses will not hire them. More from Dr. Jerry Osteryoung.

Tech Trends Repairing, and breaking, cell phones

Politely put, Stephen Matthews' Cellular Clinic is designed to coax iPhone and Android smartphones into doing more work for less money. More bluntly put, Matthews is an equal-opportunity hacker for hire. Entrepreneurs like Matthews and others not only "unlock" phones but also replace cracked screens, beef up batteries and turn phones into portable Internet connections for other devices. Full story from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.